Future’s bright for alpine skier Aruwin after superb finish in Asian Winter Games

Outstanding: Malaysia’s Aruwin Salehhuddin in action at the Asian Winter Games at the Alpine Skiing Slalom Stadium in Harbin, China, on Saturday. — Reuters

PETALING JAYA: National alpine skier Aruwin Salehhuddin has a bright future ahead after coming in fourth at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China.

The 21-year-old narrowly missed out on a medal finish in the women’s slalom event after finishing 1.82 seconds behind the third place finisher in the Yabuli Cluster in Heilongjiang Province.

Aruwin timed 1:36.74 and was pipped to the bronze by Eren Watanabe of Japan who finished in 1:34.96.

South Korea’s Gim So-hui took silver with a time of 1:34.06 and Japan’s Chisaki Maeda won gold with 1:33.50.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria congratulated Aruwin on her remarkable achievement at the Games.

“On behalf of OCM, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to Aruwin on her achievements in her first appearance at the Asian Winter Games.

“Not only was she the first Malaysian female athlete to qualify for Alpine Skiing at the Olympic Winter Games, but she is now also the first to compete in the same sport at the Asian Winter Games,” said Norza, who is also Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) vice-president for Southeast Asia.

Aruwin was one of four Southeast Asian skiers competing in the event, and Norza said she has the potential to go further in the sport with additional support.

“Aruwin has a bright future ahead. OCM will write to the Youth and Sports Minister to consider providing additional financial support to assist her in qualifying for the next Olympic Winter Games as well as the Asian Winter Games,” he said.

Aruwin, who is the daughter of former Malaysian canoer Salehhuddin Ayob, was the first Malaysian woman to compete at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.